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My mom is looking for a bike

  1. #1
    Super Adventurer SRTie4k's Avatar
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    My mom is looking for a bike

    I'm not a guru when it comes to bikes, but my mom wants to buy a bike for her and my dad to share. These are her stipulations:

    The bike must be $5000 or under, used or new, doesn't matter
    Must be reliable, and have relatively low to moderate mileage
    Relatively new, she doesn't want to be calling around to find parts for it
    She wants a standard seating position, i.e. as bolt-upright as possible with minimal reach to the handlebars
    Low enough for her to flat foot, she is 5' 6"
    Prefers Japanese simply for the smoothness of engine, but ultimately doesn't matter if there isn't a lot of vibration from the engine
    Wants something with decent power, but nothing 1000. Probably 500/600/650, etc

    The bikes I've recommended thus far are the SV650n, the Bandit (couldn't find any locally) and potentially the HD Iron/Sportster 883. Like I said, I'm not a bike guru and it seems to be hard to find a standard Japanese bike these days that resembles the reliability and comfort of the UJM's of yore. So please help me out and throw some suggestions my way.

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    Last edited by SRTie4k; 05-31-12 at 07:52 PM.
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  2. #2
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    Re: My mom is looking for a bike

    Ninja 650R.

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  3. #3
    Senior Member fineout's Avatar
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    Re: My mom is looking for a bike

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeyZ View Post
    Ninja 650R.
    great fit for what youre saying.

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  4. #4
    Don't bother me! R7's Avatar
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    Re: My mom is looking for a bike

    Yamaha FZ6

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    Yamaha

  5. #5
    Super Adventurer SRTie4k's Avatar
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    Re: My mom is looking for a bike

    The 650R still seems too aggressive. 16* forward lean for someone 5'6" according to cycle ergos. Reason I brought up the SV650 is because you can easily find higher risers...don't know if thats true for the 650R or FZ6 though.

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  6. #6
    Just Registered Doc's Avatar
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    Re: My mom is looking for a bike

    Ducati Monster.

    Or maybe a Honda Shadow.

    The Suzuki TU250x is kinda cool too.

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    Last edited by Doc; 05-31-12 at 08:12 PM.
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    Banned G21forme's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by R7 View Post
    Yamaha FZ6
    Winnah

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  8. #8
    Fast is contagious JettaJayGLS's Avatar
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    Re: My mom is looking for a bike

    street triple and kawi z750 work as well.

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  9. #9
    Rookie Rada's Avatar
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    Re: My mom is looking for a bike

    Quote Originally Posted by Doc View Post
    The Suzuki TU250x is kinda cool too.
    My sister in law just started riding out of the blue and loves her TU. Super easy to ride and i bet you could drop it a hundred times without hurting it.

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  10. #10
    Super Adventurer SRTie4k's Avatar
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    Wirelessly posted

    You guys are thinking too sport oriented. This bike will be for a 56 year old lady that grew up riding a honda cb ujm, and wants similar ergos. Anything more than about 10* of forward lean is too much.

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  11. #11
    Just Registered Doc's Avatar
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    Re: My mom is looking for a bike

    Looks UJM to me.

    My mom is looking for a bike-suzuki-tu250_460x0w-jpg

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    "I'd rather ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow"
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  12. #12
    KB KB's Avatar
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    Re: My mom is looking for a bike

    Oh come on seriously no one yet??? Ok I will...........

    Pics of your Mom???

    KB

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  13. #13
    Rookie Rada's Avatar
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    Re: My mom is looking for a bike

    Quote Originally Posted by SRTie4k View Post
    Wirelessly posted

    You guys are thinking too sport oriented. This bike will be for a 56 year old lady that grew up riding a honda cb ujm, and wants similar ergos. Anything more than about 10* of forward lean is too much.
    The TU is perfect. Maybe a little light on Powa but still.... I would ride it.

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  14. #14
    I'm Sorry, What? Jank's Avatar
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    Re: My mom is looking for a bike

    Suzuki GS500.
    An old E model or the new F for fairing.

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  15. #15
    Lifer jasnmar's Avatar
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    Re: My mom is looking for a bike

    With the less popular vote, if she's used to the older Honda look at a shadow or smaller Yamaha's of similar size. They're heavier than the sport bikes, but have a more relaxed seating position and aren't as aggressive from a performance perspective.

    I restarted riding 5 yrs ago on a cruiser. They're "fine".

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  16. #16
    Senior Member fineout's Avatar
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    Re: My mom is looking for a bike

    very straight up id nominate a versys, but its too tall, maybe with a lowering link or something?

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    Last edited by fineout; 05-31-12 at 09:18 PM.

  17. #17
    Nat Pixon! noxin's Avatar
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    Re: My mom is looking for a bike

    They use the TUs at Ironstone for the BRC and they take a beating and keep on ticking.

    They're fun to ride, but, like was mentioned, they're light on power. Good upright position as well.

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  18. #18
    Goodbye wife, hello bike! Father Ribs's Avatar
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    Re: My mom is looking for a bike

    Suzuki VS800GL Intruder. Nice upright position, low enough to put both feet down comfortably. Relatively current bike that you can still get parts and you can find them used for $2,000ish. I'm 6'2" 290lb and except for being a little cramped it was great if not a speed demon.

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  19. #19
    Member Hammerspur's Avatar
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    Re: My mom is looking for a bike

    Quote Originally Posted by SRTie4k View Post
    The bike must be $5000 or under, used or new, doesn't matter
    Must be reliable, and have relatively low to moderate mileage
    Relatively new, she doesn't want to be calling around to find parts for it
    She wants a standard seating position, i.e. as bolt-upright as possible with minimal reach to the handlebars
    Low enough for her to flat foot, she is 5' 6"
    Prefers Japanese simply for the smoothness of engine, but ultimately doesn't matter if there isn't a lot of vibration from the engine
    Wants something with decent power, but nothing 1000. Probably 500/600/650, etc
    Yamaha Road Star 650
    My mom is looking for a bike-images-jpg

    One of my bikes is a cruiser and was my re-entry into riding after over a decade without a bike.
    Low seat height, long ride comfort (regardless of complaints some make about cruisers) smooth, tractable power and low speed handling around parking lots, etc. no sporty bike can match.

    This is coming from someone who once believed he'd never be caught dead riding such machines!

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    Last edited by Hammerspur; 06-01-12 at 05:04 AM.
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  20. #20
    Expert Agitator GearHd6's Avatar
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    My girlfriend just started riding motorcycles a couple years ago. We picked up a mint used Honda Shadow VLX (which is a 600) with 6500 miles on it for $1800. She loves the bike, she can easily flat foot and it's very upright.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails My mom is looking for a bike-uploadfromtaptalk1338545886490-jpg  

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    Jeff

  21. #21
    Lifer
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    Re: My mom is looking for a bike

    Triumph bonneville

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  22. #22
    Lifer
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    Re: My mom is looking for a bike

    Versys nails your wants lists, IMO. Except the flat foot bit. That probably won't work.

    I've ridden a recent Shadow 750. It is utterly forgettable and not very good on the highway, but very, very low.

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  23. #23
    Super Adventurer SRTie4k's Avatar
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    Re: My mom is looking for a bike

    So far, I think the TU250X and the Bonneville are probably some of the best runners-up. She's not entirely convinced by the cruiser style, although I told her to at least try sitting on an 883 to see how she likes it, so maybe that will open her up to more cruisers if she does.

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  24. #24
    Super Adventurer SRTie4k's Avatar
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    Re: My mom is looking for a bike

    Quote Originally Posted by nhbubba View Post
    Versys nails your wants lists, IMO. Except the flat foot bit. That probably won't work.

    I've ridden a recent Shadow 750. It is utterly forgettable and not very good on the highway, but very, very low.
    She actually had a VStrom 650 for a few years, and she loved everything except for how tall and top-heavy it was. Maybe the Versys is different, but I have a feeling it is still too tall like you said.

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  25. #25
    Your Father csmutty's Avatar
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    Re: My mom is looking for a bike

    BMW F650GS?

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